Device for preventing snow-drifts.



B. F, SA/JEZEYl DEVCE FOR PREVENTING SNCW DRIFTS.

APPUSATION m2o MN, 9, i915.

Llg 1mm@ um 29, m5,

B. F Swezey UNITED sTATEs PATENT orrron.

BENJAMIN F. SWEZEY, OF BELLINGHAM, MINNESOTA.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING SNOW-DRIFTS.

Speeeation of Letters Patent. Patgned Jung 29, 1915,

Appiieation aies January a, 1915. serial No. 1,355.

To all Awhom may concern y Be it lnownthat I, BENJAMIN F. Swnznr, a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Bellingham, in the county of cient means whereby snow may be prevented from drifting in railroad cuts.

Another object of this invention isA the production of' a device for preventing snowdrifts whichis so formed' as to direct the wind currents through or across a. railroad cut so as to blow the snow therefrom and allow the cut to remain open to the passage of trains therethrough at all times.

Another object of this invention' isthe production of a snowdrift preventer which is so carried as' to be anchored permanently within the railroad cut and which is provided with a plurality of deiectors which are adapted to deflect the wind to pass through or across the cut for preventingthe drifting of snow therein.

IVith these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure l is a side elevation of av plurality of the devices as used for preventing snowdrifts, illustrating the manner in which the same are used. Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the snowdrift preventer, the anchor ing post being broken away. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the side beams. Fig. i is a perspective view of one end of one of the wind detlecting strips.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by niunerals l indicates the side beams of the snowdrift preventer which are carried by the anchor posts 2. These anchor posts 2 are adapted to be positioned within the ground so asto extend for a considerable distance above the upper surface of the ground and extend in parallel planes to each other. The upper ends of these posts are notched, as shown at 3, so as to carry the beams 1 v,These bea-ms l are Xedly mounted upon the upper ends of the posts by the securing members .4, and therefore, when in position, the snowdrift preventer will extend in substantially the same plane as the side of the cut so as to cause the forward end of the snowdrift preventer to be considerably lower than the rear en d thereof. Each beam l is provided with a plurality of notches 5, each notch being provided with a slanting face G which extends at an acute angle relative to the lower surface of the side beam and an abutment-,face 7, this face 7 extendinff at rio-ht anales to the bottom surb t: r.

face of the side beam l. The deilector strips 8 are positioned so to span the distance between the beams l and rest within the notches 5. The detlecting strips 8 will rest upon the slanting faces 6 at an angle of approximately degrees with the horizontal and will be retained in position by means of the securing members 9 while oneside edge of each strip will bearagainst a plurality of the abutment faces i' for partially relieving the strain from the securing members 9', caused by retaining the strips S in position. It will be noted that the beams 1 taper toward their forward ends as indicated at 10 and therefore the upper surfaces of these forward tapered ends extend in substantially the same plane as the forward strip 8 as clearly shown in Fig. l. Y

When the device is assembled, it will be seen that the strips will be positioned at a spaced distance apart but will be carried at such an angle as to cause the wind blowing against their rear sides to be directed downwardly past the forward end of the snowdrift preventer, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l. It will be seen that a considerable V. defiecting area is presented by each of the snowdrift preventers and therefore a con` siderable air current will be directed downwardly so as to pass transversely through.

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of side beams, said beams being provided with a plurality of notches, wind deiiectin'g strips, carried within said notches, said strips extending transversely across said beams andv being carried at spaced distances from each other, said strips being adapted'to defiec-b wind around the forward endyportions o1' said bea1ns,'whereby air currents may be diri 'tedso as to remove snow from railroad cuts '2, In a device of the class described, thev combination of a plurality of side "earns, means for supporting saidside bem.. s, a plurality of notches formed in said side beams, each notch being provided with a slanting rear face and with a forward abutment face, wind delecting strips carried' by said notches, each strip resting upon a plurality of said slanting faces, and having 1ts side edi-rehearing upon the abutment faces, said strips extending transversely across said llected downwardly around the forward end of the device, for preventing the drifting of snow in'y railroad cuts. y Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN l?.- SWEZEY.

Witnesses LEONARD L.' KRoUss EMANUnL G. 'GEstrULrNd 

